Relationship of ISQ Scores and Experimental Itch Intensity with Age, Gender, and Education

3.4.6 Relationships of ISQ scores and experimental measures of itch intensities with age, gender, and education years: There were no significant correlations between age and the ISQ and its factor scores in healthy individuals (ISQ: r = -0.110, p = 0.226; non-artificial itch: r = -0.124, p = 0.171; human-induced tickling: r = 0.002, p = 0.981; very mild itch: r = -0.130, p = 0.150). Gender differences in ISQ and its factor scores were not significant either (ISQ: t = 0.990, p = 0.324; non-artificial itch: t = 0.819, p = 0.414; human-induced tickling: t = 1.305, p = 0.194; very mild itch: t = 0.206, p = 0.837). Moreover, there were no significant or very weak correlations between education years and ISQ and its factor scores in healthy individuals (ISQ: r = -0.161, p = 0.073; non-artificial itch: r = -0.183*, p = 0.042; human-induced tickling: r = -0.011, p = 0.902; very mild itch: r = -0.171, p = 0.057).

Additionally, the experimental itch intensity ratings from all modalities did not show significant correlations with age and education years (Age: r = 0.034, p = 0.706 for feather-induced itch; r = 0.131, p = 0.152 for histamine-induced itch; r = -0.105, p = 0.491 for electrical itch. Education years: r = -0.018, p = 0.840 for feather-induced itch; r = 0.073, p = 0.427 for histamine-induced itch; r = -0.108, p = 0.480 for electrical itch). Furthermore, there were no gender differences in the experimental itch intensity ratings among healthy individuals (feather-induced itch: t = 1.365, p = 0.175; histamine-induced itch: t = 1.026, p = 0.307; electrical itch: t = 0.384, p = 0.703).